10.23.2009

Lazy Mom's Crazy Rice

You can say I'm a big fan of 30-minute meals (or less), quickfire dishes, simple and easy-to-prepare food for myself and for the family. Even with my "passion" and enthusiasm for food, at this point in my life, I just don't have the motivation and a great deal of time to prepare a well-planned meal.




So here I am, occasionally craving for some unique and tasty food I was served when I was younger, at the same time frustrated that I am not inspired and patient enough to whip up some new and exciting dishes to feed my own family -- hubby, two active growing kids, and in-laws.

This fried rice I decided to call Lazy Mom's Crazy Rice (or better, Busy Mom's Crazy Rice?) was borne out of the need for express cooking when our helper had an emergency days-off last weekend, and I had to serve dinner pronto! And this is what I came up with, given the items and produce I found in the refrigerator and stock in the pantry:

4 cups Left over rice, from lunch (approximate)
Lots of Minced garlic
   (as a staple in most dishes, I always try to have them minced and stocked in a small plastic container so it's always available and ready)
Chopped shallots / red onions
2 Tbs. Chopped carrots
2 Tbs. Green beans / Baguio beans
   (The sliced carrots and beans are already excess from the an earlier dish, which I then chopped to smaller bits for this fried rice)
2 Tbs. Corn Kernels, in can (excess from a previous dish as well)
Chopped green spring onions / leeks
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 Tbs. Star Margarine
Vegetable oil
As with any fried rice, you just need to sautee the aromatics like garlic and onions in oil, and for this Crazy Rice add margarine, in a pre-heated large pan or wok, just enough to coat all the rice.
Toss in carrots and green beans until cooked, but not soggy.
Mix in the rice and add a few tablespoons of water to avoid drying out the rice.
Lasty, put in corn and spring onions, then season with salt and pepper.
Mix well. Serve immediately.

Again, since I did not have enough time to thaw out some minced meat, this would have been a more savory rice meal with some lean ground pork, chicken or beef.  But overall, I am proud to say this was an instant hit, especially with the kids since they loved to pick out the corn from the rice! And in case you're wondering, the rest of our dinner were left-overs and instant soup, heehee!

In the next few posts, you can expect more quick-and-easy dishes I had prepared during my past weeks' random moments of sweet and savory cravings.

Have a great weekend of gastronomic delights everyone!

3 comments :

  1. Yummmm...I love this kind of rice! Easy to make and delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Makes me hungry! Looks like the fried rice they serve at Pepper Lunch... just without the sauce.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nomnomnom! I love fried rice! I'll try this soon, cuz Vito loves veggie fried rice.

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your thoughts on this post. Thanks and do visit again!